New buses hit the streets in North County

Natural gas fleet to replace 24 diesel buses

A new and improved fleet of Breeze buses has hit the streets in North County. And more buses are on the way, transit officials said this week.

Eighteen of 30 new compressed natural gas buses are already in service. They will replace 24 diesel buses with an average of 700,000 miles apiece said Mike Wygant, bus operations manager for the North County Transit District.

Federal rules limit transit buses to 500,000 miles or 12 years of service, he said.

Wygant said the new 40-foot buses ---- expected to be the workhorses of the fleet ---- offer several advantages compared with a natural gas fleet the district purchased in 2007, much of which is still on the road.

The fuel economy is 20 percent greater on the new natural gas buses, the interior and exterior lighting is brighter, the electronic message display is larger and the bus exits are wider, to name a few, he said.

“A lot of the improvements are refinements,” Wygant said.

Riders can also expect improved air-conditioning and easier access for those who use a ramp to board the bus, he said.

The new buses include 38 seats, one more than the older buses. With standing room, the buses can accommodate more than 60 passengers, Wygant said.

Transit officials added that the final 12 new buses will be phased into service in coming weeks.

The North County Transit District provides bus and train service across the region, including on the Sprinter light-rail and Coaster passenger rail.

The new Breeze buses include the district’s signature green, blue and white colors but with a bit flashier design.

The new Xcelsior model buses were built by Winnipeg-based manufacturer New Flyer.

With tax, they each cost $458,000, Wygant said. A combination of federal, state and regional funding paid for the new vehicles, according to the district.

Frequent bus rider Glenn Leider of Carlsbad said he's impressed with the new buses.